Display-rack.



R.- J. & F. WRIGHT. DISPLAY RACK.

APPLICATION FILED APILZI, 1911.

1,035,932. Patented Aug. 20, 1912.

2 BHBBTE-BHEET 1.

by W v Attorneys COLUMBIA PLANOGIAP" 50., WMHINOTON, D. C.

R. J. & F. WRIGHT.

DISPLAY RACK.

APPLICATION FILED APR. 21, 1911.

1,035,932. Patented Aug. 20, 1912.

2 SHEETS-BEEBT 2.

52 5/ 54 LWYTIIQ Q QIIWQ Ila? R @IIWM @4 0 j Inventors Attorneys Witnesses COLUMBIA PLANOOIAPH CO" WASHINGTON, D- EN UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

ROBERT J. WRIGHT, OF JACKSON, AND FRED WRIGHT, OF MUSKEGON HEIGHTS, MICHIGAN.

DISPLAY-RACK.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that we, ROBERT J. Wiiicn'r and FRED WVRIGHT, citizens of the United States, residing, respectively, at Jackson and Muskegon Heights, in the counties of Jackson and Muskegon, State of Michigan, have invented a new and useful Display- Rack, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to store furniture, and more especially'to display racks, and the object of the same is to produce a knock down rack for displaying sample sheets of fabric or the like, such as rugs, curtains, and similar articles. This object we accomplish. by the construction hereinafter more fully described and claimed, and as shown in the drawings wherein Figure 1 is a perspective view of this device in use. Fig. 2 is a sectional view. Figs. 3 and a are plan views of the top and bottom plates respectively. Figs. 5, 6 and 7 are perspective details of the various brackets as will be hereinafter more fully described.

The rack itself upon which is hung the article for display, such as the rug R shown in Fig. 1, comprises a horizontal hanger bar 5 and an oblique brace (5, both preferably made of wood, neatly finished and ornamented, and their dimensions may be such as the size of this display rack is to have. The hanger bars, of which there are several, stand horizontal, and the brace bars, of which there is one for each hanger, stand oblique as shown. here these two members join each other, the metallic bracket shown in Fig. 6 is employed. This consists of a base plate 7 having holes 8 through which are passed screws or nails that extend into the end of this brace 6, and having rising from it two pins 9 which extend into sockets in the under side of the hanger bar 5, all as best seen in Fig. 2. It is to be understood that the pins are removably inserted in the sockets, so that the wooden members may be separated when desired. Secured upon the inner end of each bar 5 is the bracket best seen in Fig. 5. This consists of a base plate 17 having holes 18 through which pass screws or nails to secure the bracket upon the bar, and a headed pin 19 rising from one extremity of the plate, for a purpose to appear hereinafter. The lower end of each brace is cut off obliquely as best seen in Fig. 2, and to it is secured the Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed April 21. 1911.

Patented Aug. 20, 1912.

Serial No. 622,514.

bracket best seen in Fig. 7. This consists of a base plate 27 having holes 25 through it to permit of the passage of screws or nails into the bar by means of which the plate is attirrhed thereto, and projecting downward from one end of this plate is a pin 29 for a purpose to be explained. Thus the two members or parts of this rack are not only detachable from each other, but each has attachcd to it the necessary hardware to connect it with the support which will next be described.

The upper support or top plate best seen in Fig. 8 is preferably a horizontal strip of iron corresponding in length with the size of this complete display rack. The strip 30 is provided throughout its length with a series of key-hole openings 31 whereof the smaller ends are disposed toward the front edge of this strip. Secured upon the latter are brackets 32 standing flush with its rear edge and having holes 33 through their upper members whereby they can be attached to an upright support such as the wall V. Disposed at intervals upon the strip 30 are blocks 34 (which may be secured thereto or stamped up from the strip so as to form parts thereof) whose function is to space the strip downward from the ceiling when the entire strip is disposed rather high on the wall \V, for it is necessary that the upper support shall not lie flush against the ceiling. The bottom plate best seen in Fig. f is also a strip 40 preferably of sheet metal, and pierced throughout its length with a series of holes 41 disposed directly beneath the key-hole openings 31 in the strip 30. This strip is secured upon the floor F against the wall \V in the manner best seen in Fig. 1.

The two members of any one section of this display rack having been connected as above described, the headed pin 19 is passed upward through the larger end of one of the key-hole openings 31 in the top plate, and the downturned pin 29 is dropped into the hole 11 in the bottom plate directly beneath, and the device is then supported as shown in Fig. 1 and can swing aside as also there shown. The obvious use of display racks of this kind is for the exhibition of rugs and similar fabrics which are simply thrown over the hanger bars and allowed to hang, and as the customer is desirous of seeing both sides thereof the rack must swing from side to side. Moreover, having inspected one rug the salesman swings the rack aside so that the customer may see the next, and so on. It will be observed that the front ends 4t of the hanger bars 5 project beyond the points 3 where the upper ends of the braces 6 join them, and this construction is purposely adopted to give a greater length to the hanger bar without causing the brace to project so far out into the room. Hence the lower outer corner of the rug R swings freely from side to side and the entire rack with the rack on it may be swung to and fro even though a customer or a chair or other piece of furniture stands near. Moreover the salesman can pick up the corner of the rug and display the back of it if desired. The weight of the rug only draws the headed pin 19 farther into the smaller end of the key-hole opening, and forces the socket in the bar 5 down onto the pins 9 in the bracket 7 meanwhile forcing the lower end of the brace down toward the bottom plate and in toward the wallhence the weight of the rug tends only to hold the parts more firmly together, while yet permitting each member of the rack to swing from side to side. If it should happen that the merchant has no longer use for this rack, its members are de tached from each other and disconnected from the upper and lower bars, and the latter will take up but very little room whereas the former may be stored away with ease. Later, if the occasion should arise, he can bring them out and set up the display rack again. The entire separability of parts moreover permits the device to be shipped from the maker to the user, and occupies but small space in transit. By preference we should make the bars of wood and the other parts of metal. Y

It will be noted that upon the rack being swung against the wall, the inner ends of the horizontal hanger bars may be slid inwardly to disengage the headed pins thereof from the key-hole opening, whereas it would be a difficult matter to disengage the headed pin when the racks are disposed forwardly for the reason that the weight of the rugs or other articles on the said racks would necessarily have to be overcome. By swinging the racks against the wall, and by sliding the inner ends of the horizontal hanger bars inward, it will be seen that only the frictional contact between the headed pins and the horizontal strip would have to be overcome, which would be an easy matter. This feature is important and essential to the simplicity and operation of this device.

The metallic plate 17 which is secured to the inner end and upper edge of each of the horizontal wooden bars 5 serves as a bearing contacting with the under side of the upper strip 30 and spaces the bar 5 slightly below the strip 30. This is of advantage for the reason that when a rug or the like is Placed over the bar 5, the bar 5 may be swung against the wall, as indicated in Fig. 1, the bar being spaced sufficiently below the strip 30 to permit the bar 5 to pass readily under the strip 30 without the contact of the rug or the like with the said strip. The head of the pin 19 also forms a bearing contacting with the upper side of the strip 30 and together with the plate 17, forms a means for preventing the bar 5 from being raised or lowered, and thereby retaining the bar in engagement with the strip 30, at all times unless the inner end of the bar 5 is moved inwardly to disengage the headed pin from the key-hole opening.

What is claimed is:

A knock down display rack embodyingan upper strip having a key-hole opening therein with the smaller end of the opening disposed forwardly, a lower strip having a hole therein, a horizontal wooden bar having sockets in its under face, a metallic bearing plate secured to the inner end and upper edge of the bar and having a headed pin upstanding therefrom and engaging in the key-hole opening of the upper strip so that the said plate and head of the pin form bearings contacting with the sides of the upper strip and the said plate spacing the upper edge of the bar below the upper strip, an oblique wooden brace, a metallic plate secured to the lower end of the brace and having a depending pin engaging in the hole of the lower strip, and a metallic plate secured to the upper end of the brace and having pins rising therefrom and engaging in sockets in the said bar.

In testimony that we claim the foregoing as our own, we have hereto affiXed our signatures in the presence of two witnesses.

ROBERT J. WRIGHT. FRED WRIGHT.

Witnesses:

HUBERT C. 'IELLER, GEORGE E. GREEN.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. G. 

